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Best Dramas Of 2017

The year 2017 had some brilliant dramas to its credit, which covered different genres and explored something other than the regular family politics. There are many different ingredients which make a drama click with the viewers; a gripping storyline, strong characterizations, impressive performances, sleek direction and good camera work are few of these ingredients. With so many new production houses equipped with the latest technology which are more than willing to invest in these dramas, production values of all the dramas, even the average ones, are almost always up to the mark. Also, great production values cannot make up for the lack of quality in terms of the script, acting and direction therefore these three are definitely the determining factors.

This list contains the names and details of those dramas which ended in the beginning of 2017 and also those which are currently on air. Many of these dramas have only been on air for 10 weeks or so but they clearly have all the ingredients needed to make it to this list.

How often do we get to see dramas like Sang-e-Marmar where every single episode offers so much for the viewers to grasp and absorb. In times like these where Riba is prevalent in our society, Mustafa Afridi took the initiative to showcase what dependence on Riba can do to one’s family unit and how it can destroy generations after generations. Sang-e-Marmar was a story of powerful men immune to ruling over each other, some very strong women who despite being in such a male dominant society knew how to fend for themselves and then Sang e Marmar was a story of intense family politics where every single person was affected by the deeds of one another where some were the tyrants and some were victims. It was also a story of revenge which actually showed how one wrongdoing can ruin someone’s entire life and how karma dishes out to you what you deserve.

Strong cast and stronger portrayal of characters, exceptional performances, intense emotions, meaningful dialogues and unpredictable yet convincing situations are a few key points that can define the masterpiece known as Sang-e-Marmar. The perfect direction, intense situations, intelligent writing through which the writer stirred the emotions of the viewers made this drama a success and a treat to tune to and there is no doubt about it, that the drama buffs declared Sang-e-Marmar as one of the best dramas of 2017.

Dumpukht had a powerful script, an unpredictable storyline and was definitely the kind of drama which keeps the viewers hooked to their television screens. It was also one of those dramas in which all the actors gave phenomenal performances. Nauman Ijaz always gives a faultless performance no matter which role he plays but he was especially impressive as a Pir Habib Ullah who destroys himself and everything around him because he gives into his desires and manipulates those people who have nothing but respect and reverence for him. One aspect of this play which makes it a complete winner is the fact that every single character in this drama has a story to tell, even the supporting characters have an important role to play in the story and their characters are brilliantly etched-out. This drama also has a beautiful OST which has been utilized to the maximum by the director Kashif Nisar.

Those of you who haven’t watched this play should watch it for its beautiful characterizations, soul-stirring dialogues and spell-binding performances, you won’t be disappointed.

Khuda Aur Mohabbat

The second season of Khuda Aur Mohabbat was well-hyped and well-received because those who watched the first season were in love with its story already. This time around the team of Khuda Aur Mohabbat promised the complete story that is why the viewers knew they were in for the ride. Unfortunately, the second part of the story which was something that the viewers wanted to see wasn’t tackled properly since it was shot in America and it was obvious that the team had some restraints, they however pulled off the first part of the story to perfection and once again made every single viewer fall in love with the characters of Hammad and Imaan. Khuda Aur Mohabbat was a journey of spirituality, a journey of love, a journey of how a lost soul finds the purpose of his life because he falls in love. The way the writer showed how love for a human being can bring someone closer to Allah was commendable. Imran Abbas’s portrayal of Hammad’s character was the highlight of this entire drama because he not only breathed life into that character but owned it as well. The supporting cast and characters were beautiful too because they completed this journey and added more charm to it.

Khuda Aur Mohabbat was a beautiful love story with some beautifully embedded messages along the way which were conveyed to perfection. The character of Hammad made everyone fall in love with him where viewers got so emotionally invested that they felt each and every emotion that he went through. It was unfortunate that the second phase of the drama couldn’t do justice to the story and characters but they did wrap it up decently. For the very convincing and beautifully executed first phase of the story, Khuda Aur Mohabbat deserves a place in this list of best dramas of 2017.

Drama serial Muqabil was yet another drama this year which attempted to be different and clearly succeeded in doing so. Muqabil was the story of a child abuse victim who decides to take revenge from the person who violated her in her own strange way. It also showed the journey of this victim – how the abuse affects her in the long run and the manner in which she eventually heals. This drama serial was thrilling, for the most part fast-paced and most importantly it had a really strong message. Asif Raza Mir played a role unlike any other he has played before on screen and it goes without saying that he excelled in it every step of the way!! Kubra Khan and Mohsin Abbas Haider’s riveting performances coupled with their sizzling on-screen chemistry gave the drama a definite edge. This drama was also a visual treat because of its superb picture quality and its locations, although the entire drama has been shot indoors but the director has shot every scene in such a manner that the colors and the decor gives an otherwise bleak story visually pleasing look.

All those viewers out there who missed this show should watch Muqabil for its unique plot, skillful direction and unforgettable performances.

Drama serial Sammi was a trendsetter in many ways. It touched a lot of issues which truly matter especially in a time when most dramas focus only on one subject it was a pleasure watching a drama like Sammi which tackled with number of important issues in an effective manner. The writer and director’s strong grip on all the tracks and their understanding of all the situations which were shown in the drama was the primary reason why Sammi managed to get all the messages across efficiently. Every single character in this drama was there for a reason, even the negative characters in the story were used by the writer to explain the reasons why some people feel the need to control and oppress others.

Drama serial Sammi is a must-watch because it has a brilliant script which sets all the right precedents, the script has been executed on screen impressively by the director Saife Hassan. Although Mawra Hocane’s performance leaves a lot to be desired but this drama overall has a lot of powerful performances to its credit and a solid script.

When this drama began, a lot of viewers felt that the story was lifted from Korean drama ‘House Full’ but as the story of Yeh Raha Dil progressed, despite the similarities, drama buffs fell in love with it because of beautiful and unique characters and their equally amazing chemistry. This drama was light, fun and a true example of what entertainment should be like. Even though by the end, this drama was dragged where a few unnecessary situations were added to prolong it, but it most certainly doesn’t take away from the fact that it provided thorough entertainment to the viewers for first 19 weeks without a fault.

The story of how two completely different individuals fall in love was the main plot of Yeh Raha Dil and as the story progressed, the chemistry between the leads made the viewers hooked to this drama because everyone was rooting for Zaki and Hayat. Situational yet perfect comedy, some very witty dialogues and beautifully written characters with unique personalities made Yeh Raha Dil a treat to watch. If we take away the last few episodes away, we definitely can say that it was one of the best dramas of 2017.

Pinjra was a heavy-duty drama which depicted the ugly customs and traditions which completely destroy the lives of people who fall prey to them. Pinjra is a must-watch for all those viewers out there who like a heavy dose of reality depicted on screen impeccably by a strong cast. It was also a different take on the custom of Vani which involved a great deal of raw emotions. This wasn’t the first time that Kashif Nisar did complete justice to a complicated script by making it come alive on screen in a realistic manner. Imran Nazir’s powerful script enacted on screen brilliantly by a team which put in a lot of hard work into making this serial a drama which is bound to transport you to another world which is very different and dark from the one you live in makes this drama one of the best dramas of this year. Yumna Zaidi’s impeccable performance is the best thing about Pinjra.

Watch this serial if you are not afraid to see an ugly glimpse of man’s monstrous nature. This drama will leave you truly upset but then that is what the makers wanted to achieve! Pinjra was without any doubt one of the finest dramas this year.

Based on the novel Wo Yakeen Ka Safar, Yakeen Ka Safar is a story of two individuals who fight through the hardships that life dishes out to them. A drama which started off on the note of a social issue later turned into a love story is howYakeen Ka Safar can be described. The first phase of the drama was a reminiscent of Udaari and the second phase reminded everyone of Dhoop Kinare but own its own, Yakeen Ka Safar is currently the most watched and most loved drama of the current lot because of the beautiful chemistry between the main leads and the positive message that the writer has embedded into the story by showing how one strong and self sufficent individual can impact the life of people around her.

Yakeen Ka Safar is basically a journey of a girl who learns through her mistakes, who empowers herself in such a way that she becomes a source of empowerment for others too. This drama definitely didn’t have an ideal start and the slow treatment did take away the charm but everything was redeemed once Dr. Asfand and Dr. Zubiya came across each other and their journey began. Scenic locations of Kashmir and calm and soothing feel that this drama makes it a treat to watch. Dr. Asfand and Dr. Zubiya’s love story has turned this drama into a talk of the town because after a very long time drama buffs have come across such a beautifully portrayed relationship and for this reason definitely, Yakeen Ka Safar happens to be one of the best dramas of 2017.

O Rangreza

O Rangreza is a story written with a motive of exposing double standards of our male dominant society. The writer Saji Gul has been pretty open and vocal about his intention behind writing a story like O Rangreza. Vibrant colors, beautiful OST, visually appeasing backdrops and aesthetically perfect frames showcase the amount of hardwork that has gone into this drama. O Rangreza is filled with phenomenal performances where the actors do not allow you to take your eyes off screen.

O Rangreza is a story of a girl who dreams big and dreams everything through her father’s perspective but since her father believes in having double standards, that turns out to be the bone of contention between the two. Even though the drama is still on air and it has a lot more in store for us, with the first half of the drama we are pretty convinced that it surely is going to be one of the most memorable and best dramas of 2017. Every single actor in this drama has owned their characters, be it Noman Ejaz, Irsa Ghazal, Sana Fakhar, Sajal Ali or Bilal Abbas Khas, they have elevated the level of this drama and each and every single one of them has contributed towards the final result which is obviously perfect. It is a rarity to see a character like Sassi who is anything but a damsel in distress and with the trend of showing crying and helpless women in our dramas, Sassi comes as a breath of fresh air.

Tau Dil Ka Kya Hua takes unconventional storylines to a whole new level! This drama is mainly about love, hatred, revenge and relies heavily on complicated relationships. The way all these emotions have been woven together is beyond impressive. The slow pace of this drama and the overall treatment given to it makes it a “leave everything and watch this” kind of a play but only for those viewers who have a taste for the most unusual scenarios which often take you completely by surprise! Apart from the direction which leaves you in awe of the amount of creativity the director has put into every single scene, the mind-blowing dialogues are the main attraction of this drama. Sami Khan, Mansha Pasha,Ayeza Khan and Rehan Sheikh have given some of the best performances of their career in this drama, which is also another reason why this drama made it to the list.

If you want to watch something intriguing and unusual, you should definitely tune into Tau Dil Ka Kya Hua! It is a drama which will demand your undivided attention once you start watching it.

Do share your thoughts about the dramas in the list and don’t forget to add to the list! Which drama did you like the best from all these brilliant dramas which aired this year? We would love to hear from you.

PS. The list is in no particular order, the dramas which are currently on air are however at the end.

Worst Dramas Of 2017

The private channels churned out innumerable cliched-ridden, snooze-inducing dramas all year through but there were some dramas in particular this year which were especially disappointing not only because they failed to deliver on every level but also because the viewers were not expecting these dramas to be as bad as they turned out to be. Some of the worst dramas of this year were also the most hyped and the most awaited dramas of the year. When the producers put in so much time, effort and finances into promoting a certain drama then the viewers very often fall for the trap especially when the actors and directors who the viewers have so much faith in are part of such a drama, the expectations sky-rocket immediately. Most of the dramas in this list can also be termed as star-studded disasters because they boasted of a star-studded casts which couldn’t save the day!

Bin Roye had all the ingredients to be a blockbuster; a renowned writer, a talented director, a big production house and a star-studded cast but the final product was anything but impressive. Bin Roye started off on a good note and promised to be an emotional drama but the haphazard pace, script which lacked clarity and depth, weak direction and choppy editing made Bin Roye one of the biggest disappointments of this year. This drama had total of 5 episodes which truly made an impact and were well put together. Mahira Khan and Hamayun Saeed’s chemistry made few of the episodes bearable and even entertaining, apart from that Bin Roye lacked the dramatic peaks which were necessary to keep the viewers looking forward to more. The viewers waited for years to watch this drama and eventually were relieved when it finally ended!!

Shehrnaz

Shehrnaz was Ayeza Khan’s comeback play in a different role and also Danish Taimoor’s first drama as a producer. Like many other dramas in this list, this drama too appeared to be promising in the first few episodes. Shehrnaz was the story of a girl Shehnaz who dreamed of being a star one day. In the beginning Shehrnaz was shown as someone who did not compromise on her principles and was very sensible but gradually her character took an about turn; her foolish decisions and the fact that a man who did not value her came before everyone and everything else turned her character and the entire drama into a joke! It was almost as if the first 6 episodes were written down with a specific purpose in mind and all the other episodes were completely purposeless and terribly annoying. Viewers who fell in love with Shehrnaz’s character, fell out of love just as easily and stopped watching this drama altogether. The drama lost its charm completely and the biggest disappointment was that Ayeza Khan decided to make a comeback with such a drama.

Teri Raza

It won’t be an overstatement but ever since this drama was announced, it garnered a lot of hype because after years and years, Sanam Baloch was making a come back. All those viewers who have been a fan of Sanam Baloch’s acting were not only excited but were eager to see her back on screen in a proper serial after such a long time but unfortunately, it ended up being a disaster. The fact that the story of this drama is so weak is one thing, but to see Sanam Balochchoosing it as a come back project disappointed her fans a great deal.

There is absolutely nothing about this drama that works or makes sense. The theme of this drama revolves around a girl, despite being in love with someone else chooses to get married to her cousin because of Istikhara. In a single sentence description, the story doesn’t sound so ridiculous but once you’d tune to it, you will see how many flaws this story and all the characters have. To seeSanam Baloch choosing to play such a character which makes no sense whatsoever makes one question what went wrong there that she decided to be a part of such a project which offers nothing to the viewers because they expected a lot from an actress of her caliber.

Mor Mahal

This drama promised big things but delivered next to nothing. The promos and the promotional posters that were released on the social media made Mor Mahal look like the next big thing in the Pakistani drama industry but as the viewers tuned to this drama, it turned out to be another story revolving around family politics transpired by bunch of jealous females who were fixated with one man; Asif Jahan, who despite being the ruler had no backbone and also no brains to run things on his own. It was a huge disappointment to see a strong built man following the lead of all the females in his life and not using his own mind and sensibilities enough.

Going by the promos and the overall look, it looked like the team of Mor Mahal were in a mood to give a memorable historic drama to the viewers but as the drama progressed, everything turned out to be OTT, nothing made sense and the story didn’t have any substance. It looked like the producers wasted their resources because even though they tried to make everything larger than life, it just didn’t do anything because the story was weak. Even though this drama had 40+ episodes, the viewers hardly followed half of the drama because it didn’t have enough substance to keep them hooked. It was an opportunity wasted and a project that flopped miserably.

Sanam

Sanam was yet another one of the most highly anticipated dramas that left the viewers shocked and disappointed as they had high expectations from it. Sanam was announced when Diyar e Dil ended and since everyone was in love with Wali/Farah, Osman/Maya chemistry, everyone was over the moon because they thought they’d be getting to see the magic again that too with Haseeb Hassan being the director of the new project but little did they know that Sanam would be everything that Diyar e Dil was not!

Before Sanam began, Hareem Farooq went out of the way to let the viewers know that the writer will be raising awareness about mental health and psychological issues that one faces but when the drama began, nothing made sense and the one character the writer should’ve shown as a victim was turned into a villain only to make the bechara hero and bechari heroine come together because it was easier. As the episodes progressed, the story lost the plot and the characters turned out to be such a disappointment because they had no personality whatsoever. The only agenda of the writer was to show how bechara Harib was. Sadly, where the viewers expected a recreation of magical Diyar e Dil, Sanam turned out to be a vol. 2 of Torturous Mann Mayal since Haseeb Hassan didn’t want to come out of that phase of his life where he assumed that Mann Mayal was amazing and anything similar would make the viewers jump with joy!

Seeta Bagri

Before Seeta Bagri commenced, it garnered a lot of hype because drama buffs assumed they will get to see the story about the life and the struggles of the Hindu minority community that resides in Pakistan but sadly that didn’t turn out to be the case. Even though the writer tried hard to showcase the reality but it looked like he himself got so inspired by Bollywood that he forgot to make all the Hindu characters purely Pakistani. This drama projected so many stereotypes which showed that the writer couldn’t do justice to what he was trying to show. The characters looked and sounded more Indian than Pakistani which was the biggest flaw.

Poor direction, lack of continuity in the scenarios and sloppy editing also made it hard to tune to this drama. The biggest peeve in this drama was seeing the romance between an aged woman and a young man. Bushra Ansari & Syed Jibran’s acting along with their characters were cringe worthy and the main character, Seeta Bagri was unimpressive as well. This story turned out to be a disappointment because after a few initial episodes, it became obvious that even the director had no idea what he wanted to show. Overall, it was an opportunity wasted and the writer/director had a lot of margin to show something different and bring forth the real issues of a minority which he was unable to convey.

Please feel free to share your views about the dramas in the list and don’t forget to add more names to the list!

Gohar Rasheed Talks About Rejecting “Neerja”

Gohar Rasheed is a Pakistani actor mostly known for his work in drama serials like “Digest Writer” and “Mann Mayal”. The actor has also worked in movies like 021, Yalghaar and is currently coming up with yet another feature film Rangreza.

In a recent interview Gohar talked about his journey so far, the actor revealed that his father wasn’t exactly ecstatic about him joining the entertainment industry and was pretty sure Gohar would fail and return home in a few months but God works in mysterious ways and from Karachi’s theater scene Gohar ended up straight in the Best Actor nominees at the New York Film Festival for his movie Seedlings. Since then Gohar Rasheed has become a household name.

In his interview Gohar talked about his faith in God and fate, that one can try his best and leave the rest to God, he also added that tho our nation in general is racist and prefers “fair skin” anyone, no matter how gorgeous, can’t and will not survive without craft and skill. The actor said that he loves playing “the baddie” but won’t mind playing the good guy once in a while to prove his versatility.

When asked about working in Bollywood the actor had the following to say:

“It’s a creative process, acting and film-making. So if I get an invitation with dignity and respect, I’d love to go. My only concern is that the script should be good and it shouldn’t pit me as ‘the Pakistani guy.’ I rejected Neerja for this very reason… because I felt that I was there as a token Pakistani actor which is not what I am about at all! I am more than just a namesake. If it’s a good collaboration, if it’s exploring my potential as more than just ‘that Pakistani actor in an Indian film,’ yeah I don’t mind.”

We agree with Gohar through and through, art is nothing without dignity and sincerity, we wish the actor all the luck for his future endeavors because this industry deserves a better class of villains and he’s gonna give it to us (hard to miss but it’s a Joker reference).